Article of apparel



L. A. SHERRY.

ARTICLE OF APPAREL! APPLICATION FILED OCT; 19, 1921.

Emma (but 3L 119221 Patented Get. 31,

warren stareslearner- 1 a en LOUISE ANTOINETTE SHERRY, 0F CABTHAGE, NEW YORK.

ARTICLE or arrannn.

Application filed October 19, 1921. Serial No. 508,701.

' of a figure in natural and desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article of apparel which in its various types and modifications may be em-' ployed in conjunction with garments and other apparel of various styles and types and perform its function independently of or in conjunction with such other garments and apparel.

It is well known that the natural and supposedly artistic position for the mammary glands of the female figure is such that the glands themselves are, substantially semispherical but with the tendency when the figure stands erect for such glands to sag .or move downwardly, while at other times when the figure is resting upon its back the tendency is to recede each toward the adjacent under arm position.

An object of the invention is, therefore, to support the mammary glands in the natural position when the figure is erect but to ofier substantially no obstruction to the re- A further object of the invention is to provide substantially semi-spherical, semirigid members with means for supporting the semi-spherical members in the natural positionof and enclosing the glands.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel parts, ele

' 'ments, units, combinations and functions, as

disclosed in the drawing, together with equivalents thereof, as W111 be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view from the front of afigure wearing an article of apparel in accordance with the present invention and co-acting" and associated with a corset of the front-lace type;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from the rearof a figure equipped as at Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front view of a figure wearmg the. present lnventlon assoclated with an encloslng corset;

Figure 4 1s a perspective view from the 'rear of the type of apparel shown at Figure 3 showing the manner of associating with a corset of the back-lace type;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the means for attaching the device to a backlace corset; I

' Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the ends of the vbelt used with the type of device associated with the front-lace corset shown at Figures 1 and 2, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the article of apparel which is or may be employed with or without a corset or with or without any other particular or specific article of apparel.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Essentially the present invention com "prises a palr of semi-spherical, semi-rigid members '10 composed of any approved material and constructed in any approved manner with means for maintaining such semispherical members in position over and en- 0 osing the mammary glands, as suggested by Figures 1 and 3. The means of supporting and maintaining these members 10 in position may be varied slightly but will comprise straps 11 passing over the shoulders of the wearer, as shown at Figures 1 'to 4 inclusive and suggested in Figure 7 With. means for attaching the straps for maintaining the straps in position and attaching the straps to the members 10. The manner of attachment to the members 10 may vary also slightly.

As shown at Figure 7 the straps are indicated as being woven with a slit-extending from the points 12 to the points 13, the members being separated and enclosing the members 10 to which they are secured in any approved manner, as by sewing. As shown at Figure 1 separate straps 14 and 15 are secured to the straps 10 in any approved manner and passing about the members 10 are secured to their margins as by sewing or otherwise. As shown at Figure 3, short straps 16 and 17 are secured to the straps 11 as by sewing or otherwise and to the members 10 of. the members 10 all such securing being by means of sewing or in any approved manner, and are then secured at 22 to the straps 23 which preferably. terminate in hose supporters 24. In the type shown at Figure 7 the straps, 11, after being separated and passing about the members 10, are continued as the straps 11, terminating also in hose supporters .24, similar hose supporters 2ft being also employed in the type shown at Figure 1, ,the straps 14 and 15 being againunited at 25 with a strap 26 connecting with such hose supporters 24.

As shown at Figures 1 and 3 the straps 23 and 26 are extended downwardly under the corset, but it is to be understood that this is only a' suggestion of a manner of use and is no limitation in any way upon the invention and that such straps may, if found desirable, be worn on'the outside of the corset instead of underneath. In the type shown at Figure 3 also a cross-strap 27 is employed to prevent undesirable recession, but such strap is not essential. A similar strap 28, employed for a similar purpose, is shown in the type disclosed at Figure 7. In the latter type the straps 11 continue downwardly and are connected with hosesupporters 24, with a cross-strap 28' connecting the straps 11, straps 28 and 28' being connected to occupy a position approximately at the waist line of the wearer. a

It will be especially noted that the bust supporting and enclosing members 10 are independent and free from each other, in order to allow wearers body and move independently of the other one. The members 10 are free of horizontal pressure and tension and only receive a substantially vertical upward and downward pressure or tension by reason ofthe straps 11, 11, 23 and 26 in conjunction with the garment connecting means 2 1, 24, 29, 31 and 32.

At the back of the wearer the device shown at Figures 1 and 3 eliminate the straps 11 connected with the hose supporters 24, as shown at Figure 7. At Figure 1 a belt 29 is employed embracing the Waist of the wearer to which the straps 11 are secured, as at the points 30. Also preferably the ends of the belt 29 are provided with hooks 31 which hook over and engage the margins of the corset of the front-lace type, as indicated more particularly at Figure 1. In the type shown at Figures 3 and 4 the straps 11 con verge to a hook 32 which, as shown at Figure 4, engages the lacing of the corset. It is to be understood, however, that these various means of attaching the posterior elements of the device may be and will be varied as occasion may require and as choice of apparel and fashion may make necessary, and that the showing is, therefore, largely conventional and intended only to show one to be adjusted to the.

that it is necessary to maintain the straps 11 in proper position upon the shoulder by ap-' plying tension both anteriorly and 'posteriorly to prevent the vertical movement of the members 10, whose'position in the final anal sis is the desideratum of the invention;

l hat I claim to be new is:

1. An article of apparel comprising a plurality of independent bust supporting members, the upper margins of said members being provided with means for supporting and tensionin the same, and straps extending from the lhwer margins of said members and provided with means for connecting said last mentioned straps to a arment of the wearer and placing said fast mentioned straps under a substantially vertical ten- SlOIl.

2. An article of apparel comprising a plurality of independent bust supporting members, straps extending upward from the upper margin of said members and provided with means for connecting said straps to a garment of the wearer, and straps extendin from the lower margins of said members and provided with means for connecting said last mentioned straps to a garment of the wearer and placing said last mentioned straps under a substantially vertical tension.

3. An article of apparel comprising a plurality of independent bust supporting members, the upper margins of said members being provided with means for supporting and tensioning the same, and straps extending from the lower margins of said members and provided with hose supporters adapted to be connected to a'wearers hose and placing said last mentioned straps under a substantially vertical'tension.

4. An article of apparel comprising a plurality of bust supporting members, straps extending from the upper margins of said members and adapted to extend over the shoulders and down the back of the wearer and provided with hose supporters, and straps extending downward from the lower margins of said members and provided with hose supporters.

5. An article of apparel comprising a bust supporting member, a strap extending from and adaptthe upper margin of said member ed to extend over the shoulders and down the back of the wearer and provided with a hose supporter and a strap extending downward from the lower margin of said member and provided with a hose supporter.

6. An articleof manufacture comprising a plurality of bust supporting members, straps extending from the upper margins of said members and adapted to extend over the shoulders and down the back of the wearer and provided with hose connecting means, straps extending downward from the lower margins of said members and provided with hose supporters, and a spacer in-steal a,

strap connecting the last mentioned straps hose supporters and spacer straps adapted across the body of the wearer. to connect the first and second mentioned 7. An article of manufacture comprising straps across the wearers body at substana plurality of bust supporting members, tially the waist line. K 5 straps extending from the upper margins of In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my 15 said members and adapted to extend over signature in presence of two witnesses.

the shoulders and down the. back of the WUESE A 'WENETTE wearer and provided with hose supporters, Witnesses: straps extending downward from the lower FLORENCE WALSH,

1o margins of said members and provided with MARION WHITE. 

